Photo: THIBAULT VERGOZ / TAAFCheminées Poujoulat was forced to run aground onto the rocks at the Kerguelen Islands

It has been a month since the last time I've spoken about the Vendée Globe. In the meanwhile the first four boats have passed Cape Leeuwin, the second of the three great capes on the route, and the race has proved again and again its reputation of being the toughest challenge for the sailors. Dismasting, collisions, and every kind of technical problems have already led eleven out of the thirty partcipants to abandon the regatta.

A misadventure has occurred to Bernard Stamm, who, on board his Cheminées Poujoulat was forced to run aground onto the rocks at the Kerguelen Islands.Both Stamm and his compatriot Dominique Wavre – skipper of Temenos II which was also forced to take refuge there to effect repairs – had to jump into Cheminée Poujoulat’s liferaft at the last minute before the Open 60 was driven ashore in 45 knot winds late on Sunday night. They were taken ashore by Navy divers.